Blog Archives

Rangers Practice Report: Buchnevich may have more than back spasms, Jooris ready and NYR lines

Bobby Bevilacqua

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Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

The Rangers practiced this afternoon ahead of their game against the Panthers tomorrow, but Pavel Buchnevich did not take the ice with his team. Alain Vigneault alluded to the fact that it might be more than back spasms for the rookie.

“Not a set back. Today he came in and wasn’t feeling the way we expected him,” Vigneault told Matt Calamia of NYRangers.com. “Right now we’re going to have our doctors take a good look at him. This obviously might be more than just back spasms. We’re going to take a look at this and we’ll come up with a plan and I’ll share that plan with you.”

This means that Buchnevich will miss his fourth straight game with these so-called back spasms. Earlier this season he missed five games with “back spasms,” which could mean that it’s a chronic issue. It’s been tough for him, but he’s been good while healthy, tallying four goals and four assists in eight games. Read the rest of this entry

Rangers sweep Canada trip with 7-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks

Bobby Bevilacqua

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Despite playing their third game in four nights and getting shelled in the first period, the Rangers (13-4-0) managed to come out of Vancouver with a 7-2 win thanks to an incredible offensive outburst from the team.

The Rangers got two goals apiece from JT Miller and Kevin Hayes, plus a three point night from Mats Zuccarello with a goal and two assists. Brandon Pirri (GWG) and Nick Holden also found the back of the net, while Mika Zibanejad, Kevin Klein and Jesper Fast each recorded two assists. Henrik Lundqvist was spectacular, making 36 saves to pick up his ninth win of the season.

For a box score, click here. Keep reading for my recap and thoughts on the game; Read the rest of this entry

Rangers recall Cristoval “Boo” Nieves from Hartford

Bobby Bevilacqua

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Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

This afternoon, New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced that the team has recalled Cristoval Nieves from the Hartford Wolf Pack, and he will join the team immediately.

Nieves has skated in 13 games with Hartford, registering a goal and five assists, putting him third on the team in points and second in assists. He has recorded four assists/points in the last seven games and is the only member of the Wolf Pack to not have a penalty called against him. In 21 career AHL games, he has a total of three goals and 11 points. Read the rest of this entry

Rangers Roundup: A win in Edmonton and updates on Kreider, Buchnevich

Bobby Bevilacqua

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The Rangers (12-4-0) started off their two game road trip with back-to-back contests against the Flames and the Oilers, picking up two wins after a strange game last night in Edmonton.

Chris Kreider missed the game with what the team is calling an “upper body injury,” and just minutes before the game, it was announced that Pavel Buchnevich wouldn’t play because of back spasms. So Vigneault had to dress Adam Clendening in order to reach the required 18 skaters.

Somehow, someway the team managed to grind out a 3-1 win to pick up their 12th win of the season, and their seventh win in the last eight games. Antti Raanta was spectacular in his fifth start of the season, making 38 saves and improving to 4-0-0 with a .938 save percentage. Michael Grabner scored another two goals, giving him 10 this season, and Dan Girardi scored his third goal, which was the game winner. Read the rest of this entry

Rangers Practice Report; Skjei earns high praise and AV shuffles up the whole lineup

Bobby Bevilacqua

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Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

 

The Rangers practiced in New York yesterday ahead of their first extended road trip, beginning with a trip through Canada to play the Flames, Oilers and Canucks before heading back to the states to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Alain Vigneault and his team have played 10 of their first 14 games at Madison Square Garden, with four brief one game road trips in between the homestands. The Rangers have been a good home team in recent years, with their 74 wins being tied for second in the NHL.

“It’s a good challenge for us,” Henrik Lundqvist told reporters on Thursday. “We haven’t traveled much. We’ve played a lot of home games, which has been a good test. Now, I think it’s going to be a good test to go out on the road here and face some desperate teams.” Read the rest of this entry